The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced charges against 48 noncitizens on October 26, 2026, for alleged election-related crimes spanning five states, including Pennsylvania, California, Florida, New York, and Nevada. The cases involve accusations of illegal voting in federal elections, fraudulent voter registration, and falsely claiming U.S. citizenship to register or cast ballots. Authorities emphasized that the charges do not establish guilt.
Two Indian nationals are among those charged. Amandeep Kaur, 30, a lawful permanent resident seeking U.S. citizenship, faces allegations of registering to vote in December 2022 and voting in the November 2024 election in California’s Central District. Kamlesh Navnitlal Shah, 67, another lawful permanent resident, is accused of registering to vote and casting a ballot on the day of the November 2024 general election in California’s Eastern District. Both individuals are charged with misdemeanor and felony offenses, depending on the alleged violations.
Federal prosecutors also revealed that more than 400 noncitizens in Washington state have been identified as illegally registered voters, with some casting ballots in multiple elections dating back to the 1980s. Acting U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd for the Western District of Washington described the findings as “the tip of the iceberg”, noting that investigators found approximately 1,500 instances of noncitizens casting ballots. Many of those identified are lawful permanent residents who registered through Washington’s Motor Voter program and later claimed they assumed they were eligible to vote.
Prosecutors have urged Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs to segregate any vote-by-mail ballots from the identified individuals until their citizenship can be verified. The DOJ has also sought to set aside roughly 20,000 mail-in ballots in Los Angeles County sent to individuals whose citizenship status is in question. False claims of citizenship on registration forms or naturalization applications carry potential felony penalties of up to five years in prison.
The cases span both misdemeanor and felony charges, with allegations including voter registration fraud, illegal voting, and false statements during naturalization proceedings. Some defendants are accused of concealing previous voter registration or voting activity when applying for U.S. citizenship. The DOJ’s announcement follows a broader crackdown on election integrity, with immigration officials confirming nationwide arrests of noncitizens in connection with voter fraud investigations.
Authorities have not yet confirmed whether any of the identified noncitizens in Washington state were among those charged in the 48-case announcement. The DOJ stated that its investigation is ongoing and that additional charges may be filed as more evidence emerges.